Pacific-Asian Legal Studies Organization
The Pacific-Asian Legal Studies Organization (PALSO) is committed to developing an understanding of Pacific-Asian legal systems. PALSO sponsors a series of lectures by speakers from the local bar and academic community as well as from Pacific Rim countries and the U.S. mainland. The organization also sponsors an overseas summer study program seminar, a career seminar for law school students and many social activities throughout the academic year. PALSO students have also supported our LL.M. program, many of whose students come from Asia.
`Ahahui O Hawai`i
The `Ahahui O Hawai`i is an organization of Native Hawaiian students, students interested in issues affecting the Native Hawaiian community, and graduates of the School of Law. The Hui strives to educate the law school and broader community about legal issues affecting Native Hawaiians and Hawai`i, including traditional and customary rights, sovereignty and currrent cases and legislation.
University of Hawai`i Filipino Law Students Association (UHFILSA)
The University of Hawai`i Filipino Law Students Association (UHFILSA) was formally organized in 1981 to commemorate the seventy-fifth anniversary of the arrival of the first Filipinos in Hawai`i. It is dedicated to meeting the growing need of the Filipino community in Hawai`i for better legal representation in the mainstream of Hawai`i.
Asian-Pacific Law & Policy Journal
The Asian-Pacific Law & Policy Journal (http://www.hawaii.edu/aplpj) was founded in 1999 as the first fully functional web-based American journal dedicated to addressing legal issues in East Asia, Polynesia and Australia. The Journal is edited and managed by students and provides them with a significant opportunity to improve their research, writing and editing skills while making a contribution to legal scholarship. Although a relatively new journal, the APLPJ has become a popular forum for discussion of important legal issues affecting the Asia-Pacific region, attracting a wide readership of overseas scholars, practitioners and students.
Moot Court Teams
PALS students are eligible for the School of Law's moot court teams, including the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court team, which participates in the annual competition co-sponsored by the American Society of International Law and the International Law Students Association. The competition requires students to brief and argue a hypothetical case on issues of international law, and team members receive one course credit for their participation. PALS students have also participated in the annual Native American Moot Court Competition, which offers similar opportunities to improve brief-writing and advocacy skills.
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Every year our J.D. program attracts a remarkably talented and diverse group of students, many of whom have lived and worked in Asia or have strong research or practical interests in Asian and Pacific studies. In 2005, ten of our graduating students (about 10% of the class) graduated with PALS certificates, and many more students enrolled in several PALS courses. This creates a strong community of shared interests, and our students have an opportunity to work on projects with their classmates in a host of PALS activities, including a law journal, moot court teams and other student organizations.
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From our Chinese New Year party to the many internationally-renowned speakers we host at our law school, PALSO provides students with a variety of opportunities to explore their interests in Pacific-Asian legal studies.
NATHAN OKUBO, PALSO PRESIDENT, CLASS OF 2005.
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Working on the Asian-Pacific Law & Policy Journal has been an exciting and rewarding opportunity. As an editor of this journal, I was able to explore my interest in Asian and Pacific legal issues while polishing my writing and editing skills. Jessica Yuah Choi, Class of 2005, APLPJ editor-in-chief.
JESSICA YUAN CHOI, APLPJ EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, CLASS OF 2005
